The Baltimore Ravens have an obvious need for a veteran pass-rusher with a proven track record, but general manager Eric DeCosta has a surprising take on the possibility of reuniting with three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney during the remainder of 2026 NFL free agency.
DeCosta was asked during an interview with 105.7 The Fan Baltimore’s Bruce Cunningham and Obafemi Ayanbadejo about the chances of signing Clowney, or even five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa. The GM framed his response around who is already in the team’s pass-rush room.
DeCosta told former Ravens fullback Ayanbadejo, “We’ve got Trey [Hendrickson], we feel really good about him. We got Tavius [Robinson]. We got Mike Green. And we just drafted Zion [Young], not to mention Adisa [Isaac]. So, it’s hard to give these guys enough reps as it is at times, especially the way we use them, where we rotate these guys, and most of our guys are getting somewhere between 30 and 40 reps.”
The Ravens do have some intriguing talent on the edges ready to support All-Pro Trey Hendrickson, and DeCosta sounds more concerned about safeguarding their development.
He admitted, “Do I think we could use a [veteran] like that talent-wise? Of course. … It then becomes, though, does that now stunt the development of some of these younger players?”
DeCosta doubled down on this message when he made specific reference to Clowney, who played some of his best football for the Ravens in 2023: “We signed Clowney years ago in August, I think, maybe the first week of training camp, right around there. But I think what we want to do is assess what we have and make a decision based off of that.”
Those words may not be welcomed by many, including Clowney, who has already made his feelings clear about returning to the Ravens.
Ignoring Jadeveon Clowney a Risk for Eric DeCosta
There’s an obvious risk for the Ravens if they ignore marquee names still on the market, like Bosa and Clowney. The latter is available, despite conflicting reports about the Dallas Cowboys wanting to bring him back for another season.
Clowney proved his enduring talent with some exceptional performances for the Cowboys in 2025. The 33-year-old logged 8.5 sacks, the second-highest tally of his career, behind the 9.5 quarterback takedowns he notched for the Ravens three years ago, as well as for the Houston Texans in 2017.
It was the Texans who made Clowney the first-overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and while he’s never been a prolific pass-rusher, Clowney has dominated the line of scrimmage for over a decade.
He still offers the versatility to play on either side of the defensive line, with his hand down or as standup rusher. Clowney also remains a formidable force against the run.
A front-seven disruptor with Clowney’s pedigree is just what the Ravens need after recording a mere 30 sacks last season. They also lost an experienced leader when Kyle Van Noy entered free agency.
Van Noy wants to play for a contender in the NFC, so the Ravens would need to expand any search for veteran help. Clowney fits the bill because he can make everybody up front better, but DeCosta sounds more than content for the Ravens to trust what they already have at the position.
Ravens Ready to Trust Young Edge-Rushers
Trusting their young edge-rushers is certainly a gamble for the Ravens, despite the obvious upside of some members of the depth chart. Including Green, who led college football in sacks in 2024, but struggled to make a dent during his debut campaign in the pros, even with help from a franchise legend.
DeCosta will hope this year’s second-round pick, Zion Young, makes a more immediate impact. Unfortunately, there are already concerns about his best position, while some NFL teams were said to be put off by red flags on and off the field during Young’s college career.
The Ravens made their move for Young and appear set to rely on the rookie and Green to underpin a new-look pass rush. If they can, DeCosta’s faith will look inspired, but he will soon regret not adding a Clowney-type if the Ravens are struggling to put enough heat on the pass-pocket once the new season is underway.
Ravens GM Gives Surprising Answer About Jadeveon Clowney Interest